Reviews

In Step by Jay Hogan

linkreads's review against another edition

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5.0

I’m not sure what magic recipe Jay whipped up with this series, but it just got better with every book. I was sure this wouldn’t beat my love for On Board, one of my top reads of 2021… but I think Abe and Kane may have won out. The absolute tragedy of Kane’s life, the unerring and unconditional support from Abe, the sob inducing levels of hurt/comfort, the supportive cast, the acceptance… the love… it just made every single word of this book near perfection. And she kept us hanging on by a thread until the last possible moment. But it was so worth it. The HEA is one of the most satisfying I’ve ever read. Pack the tissues and enjoy the ride.

cklbrown9's review

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

hemmel_mol's review against another edition

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5.0

I was underwhelmed, the first time I listened, because I could not tell the voices apart and had no sense of the characters. Something made me restart the recording and it was great. So many details I did not pick up the first time! I was fascinated by Kane. Abe was less developed. The voices were slightly different. Abe had an amused tone.
I love this novel!

Follow my reviews at http://HemmelM.blogspot.com

elyxyz's review against another edition

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5.0

(Rece su copia ARC)

VOTO: 4.5 stelle
Dopo i primi due libri che mi sono entrati nel cuore, sapevo che questo volume conclusivo avrebbe avuto filo da torcere per farsi valere, ma ha raccolto la sfida e ne è uscito vincitore: a mio modesto parere, si è difeso benissimo e merita un punteggio pieno o quasi.
Abbiamo conosciuto Kane Martin già nel primo libro, anche se di sfuggita: il suo passato da bullo omofobo ai tempi della scuola ha contribuito a rendere la vita gaya di Judah un inferno, fino a farlo fuggire da Painted Bay.
Il Kane del presente è completamente diverso, ma il suo percorso di redenzione agli occhi di Judah e della sua famiglia è lento e difficoltoso, anche se Cora gli ha trovato un alloggio e un lavoro costringendo i figli ad accettarlo nel clan Madden, almeno sul fronte lavorativo.
Nei primi due libri lo abbiamo visto risollevarsi da terra, ma Kane è un personaggio che nasconde molte cose e porta su di sé un passato molto doloroso. La vita lo ha colpito più volte, e lui si è sempre rialzato in qualche modo, dimostrando un animo coraggioso e umile. Il suo amore per gli animali, poi, mi ha scaldato il cuore.
L’arrivo del coreografo Abe, che deve aiutare Judah nel saggio di fine anno dei bambini con disabilità, è l’incognita che Kane non si aspettava.
L’uomo non ha i pregiudizi che a Painted Bay tutti si portano dietro fin dai tempi della scuola e si avvicina a Kane vedendo l’uomo per quello che è: un animo buono, una persona sola e sensibile, che meriterebbe amore e comprensione.
Nasce così una traballante amicizia e, fra una lezione di tango e una di baci, i due iniziano una relazione segreta, perché la reazione di Judah sarebbe funesta per entrambi.
Ed è così che scopriamo come anche Kane sia omosessuale e tutt’altro che omofobo, ma costretto a mentire a tutti per delle ragioni davvero importanti, che scoprirete leggendo questo bellissimo libro.
Il personaggio di Kane mi aveva incuriosito già dall’inizio, e sono stata contenta che abbia avuto lo spazio che merita e una seconda possibilità di essere felice, amato e accettato.
Forse è persino troppo generoso, se penso alla sorella che lui vuole aiutare ma che, al contrario di lui, non si interessa affatto di come stia. Questo dimostra solo quanto il suo cuore sia grande.
Abe ha quattordici anni più di lui, un lavoro da coreografo che lo rende nomade in giro per il mondo ed è il suo baricentro. Abe sa che può collezionare solo storie passeggere e che la danza è più importante di tutto, fino a che il suo cuore non gli spiega il contrario…
“A passo di danza” ha per protagonista una coppia diversa dai precedenti volumi, ma vi consiglio di leggere la serie in ordine, altrimenti non capirete la trama generale e l’evoluzione dei vari personaggi, perché, oltre ad Abe e a Kane, ritroviamo anche tutti gli altri amati cittadini di Painted Bay.
Anche questo libro è molto coinvolgente e ben bilanciato, con una trama che cattura, ed è arrivato a farmi commuovere, indice per me di assoluta qualità.
La storia tocca temi importanti menzionando lutto, abusi e malattie, ma lo fa con rispetto e non credo possa turbare i lettori più sensibili.
Non mi resta che consigliarvelo, se amate le storie con divario d’età fra i protagonisti, i balli sensuali e i buoni personaggi che trovano la felicità.

tyseco's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

perusing_pages's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

The third and final book in the Painted Bay series follows Kane who we meet in book 2 and Abe a choreographer friend of Judahs in town for a few months to help Judah put on a performance with the disabled kids he works with. Kane has a not so great history with Judah, and I wasn't sure how I was going to come to understand his character and want him to get his HEA, but Jay managed it. After finishing book 2 I was left not liking Judah much because of his attitude in that book and I loved that Abe & Kane put him in his place in this one, his behaviour towards Kane is mostly understandable given the history but Kane clearly feels alot of remorse for his past and has been doing what he can to respect Judahs wishes & make up for it. 
I really liked the relationship development between Abe & Kane, and felt that the issues etc that they go through and the way they were written was very realistic and a great representation of just being human, making mistakes and learning from them. Overall, it was a really good end to this particular series. It has the humour, tension, spice, etc, that I like from a Jay Hogan book, and Gary Furlongs narration was great. 🌶🌶

ioana_maris17's review

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5.0

Just WOW!!

From the moment i read the descriptions of all 3 parts, i knew this is gonna be my favourite, and it totally didn't disappointed!! It's absolutely fabulous!!
From my part it deserves 100⭐️ not just 5

emmerged's review against another edition

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  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
This is far and away the best of the series. The characters are beautifully flawed, but when their flaws become issues they ACTUALLY TALK. And they both FINALLY put Judah in his place. The dancing is hot as sin, and the HIV presentation is SO much better than I’ve seen previously. 

Also, props for the casual positive inclusion of physical disability. It’s not even remotely a plot point, just a part of the scenery.

This is also top tier Gary Furlong. This and Heartsong are his peak performances.

Will definitely re-listen.

kaity_b's review

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5.0

Reread/Relisten: November 2023

The more I read this series the more I love Kane and strongly dislike Judah lol. Judah holds this grudge for so long on not only Kane but his brother Leroy that it's annoying and the world doesn't revolve around him... haha as you can tell I am not a fan of Judah anymore haha.

I love Kane and Abe though, they are so cute together and I loved seeing Kane's transformation from quiet outcast to part of the "family".

I do hope there are more books in this town in the future, but probably not haha.

Original Read/Listen: August 2022
Audio: 5 stars (on Everand-aka the new Scribd)
Book: 4.5 stars

Kane my sweet misunderstood boy, you were my favorite since book two and kinda in book one with the brief introduction we got of you. I know you were seen as a bully but I am so glad we got your side of the story. And what a heartbreaking side it was.

Abe you brought Kane out of his shell and showed him what it meant to be loved. That was the perfect.

I did agree with Abe at one point when he asked why it’s all about Judah.. and yeah it was pretty much all about Judah and how he’d react to things even 2 books later haha. That was annoying but I understood.

I loved Gary Furlongs narration his accents

monalisalisa's review

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4.0

4 Stars ⭐